RALEIGH, N.C. — Avalanche coach Joe Sacco this morning confirmed backup goalie Peter Budaj will get his eighth start of the season against the Carolina Hurricanes tonight in the RBC Center.

“I think that Craig (Anderson) needs a rest,” Sacco said after the Avalanche’s morning skate. “He’s been playing a lot. I think Peter’s done well when he’s been called upon and I felt the timing was right tonight, especially with three games in four nights on the road.”

The trip continues with games Saturday at Buffalo and Calgary on Monday.

Also, defenseman John-Michael Liles won’t be in the lineup tonight because of illness.

“He had flu-like symptoms yesterday morning, so we decided not to have him travel with us yesterday,” Sacco said. “He’s scheduled to come in (to Raleigh) sometime later this afternoon, but he won’t be playing tonight.”

Liles will be replaced in the lineup by Derek Peltier, recalled from Lake Erie. Peltier was with the Avalanche from Dec. 12-28, but was a healthy scratch throughout the stretch. The The former University of Minnesota defenseman played 11 games for the Avalanche last season.

“It’s a good opportunity for him tonight to show us what he can do and a good opportunity for us to see what he can do,” said Sacco, who coached Peltier at Lake Erie last season.

A graduate of Wheat Ridge High School and the University of Colorado, Terry Frei has been named a state's sportswriter of the year six times -- three times each in Oregon and Colorado. He mainly covers college football and hockey for The Post. He's the author of seven books, including the novel "Olympic Affair" about Colorado's Glenn Morris, the 1936 Olympic decathlon champion.

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